Tickets to America’s Cup Opening Ceremony on sale

An opening ceremony on July 4 will mark the debut of the America’s Cup Park and the start of the Summer of Racing in San Francisco. Tickets for the 2013 America’s Cup Opening Ceremony are on sale now with proceeds to benefit the America’s Cup Healthy Ocean Project.

“This is going to be a fantastic day for the America’s Cup in San Francisco,” said Stephen Barclay, the CEO of the America’s Cup Event Authority. “We’ve been working towards this moment for nearly two years and the opening ceremony is the start of what is going to be an unforgettable Summer of Racing.”

Opening day marks the start of the competition for the America’s Cup, the oldest trophy in international sport. Racing begins on July 7 in the Louis Vuitton Cup, America’s Cup Challenger Series, with three challengers vying for the right to race the defender, ORACLE TEAM USA, in the America’s Cup Finals in September. This is the first time America’s Cup racing has ever been held in San Francisco and the first time the competition has returned to the United States since 1995.

Opening day on July 4 is the day the America’s Cup Park at Piers 27/29 along the Embarcadero opens its doors to the public. Entrance to the Park is free, where a range of family activities is available, including interactive exhibits featuring the science and history of the America’s Cup; the Flying on Water cinema where theater-goers experience the sensation of racing on a spectacular AC72 catamaran; and a Kids Area featuring sail hoists and other hands-on activities.

The opening ceremony at the America’s Cup Pavilion is a celebration of international culture. Up to 300 members of the four competing teams will take to the stage, along with entertainment from the competing nations of Italy (Luna Rossa Challenge), Emirates Team New Zealand, Sweden (Artemis Racing) and ORACLE TEAM USA.  Each team and nation will share unique cultural programming.

A wide selection of food and beverage and event and team merchandise is available in the America’s Cup Park, which also provides a public waterfront promenade around the perimeter of Piers 27/29.

The Opening Ceremony at the America’s Cup Pavilion (located within the America’s Cup Park) is a ticketed event and begins at 3:00pm. $9 of the $10 ticket price will support the America’s Cup Healthy Ocean Project. Tickets are available from Monday June 17 at ticketmaster.com.